Child Stars of the 60s: Where Are They Now?

The first TV was invented in 1927. It wasn’t until the mid-1950s, however, that it became commonplace in homes.

And by the 1960s, several popular shows had come out including The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, The Addams Family, and Star Trek.

Did you grow up watching those shows? Curious to know what happened to the child stars of the 60s?

If so, you’re at the right place. Find out what they’ve been up to by reading the rest of this post!

1. Hayley Mills

Then: Haley Mills starred in a number of hit movies throughout the 1960s including That Darn Cat, Pollyanna, and The Parent Trap. By the end of her six-year run at Disney, she’d become one of the most popular child actresses of the era.

Now: While she hasn’t managed to recreate the same level of success, she has landed a number of roles over the years. For example, she played Caroline Du Plessis in the drama series, Wild at Heart and Iona in Pitching In.

2. Ron Howard

Then: Ron Howard rose to fame playing Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, a role that he played from 1960 to 1968. In addition to that, he appeared in the films, Five Minutes to Live, Village of the Giants, and The Music Man.

Now: An award-winning director, he’s known for several critically acclaimed movies including A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code, and Solo: A Star Wars Story

3. Mary Badham

Then: Mary Badham starred as Scout Finch in the 1962 film, To Kill a Mockingbird. The role eventually earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, which made her the youngest actor to ever be nominated for the award.

Now: Badham retired from acting at the age of fourteen. However, she has appeared in a few recent titles including Our Very Own and Erasing His Past. In 2015, she also made an appearance in the documentary, Earl Hamner Storyteller.

4. Erin Murphy 

Then: Erin Murphy played the young Tabitha Stephens on Bewitched from 1964 to 1972. By the time she was five years old, she had appeared in over 100 episodes.

Now: Murphy has made a few television appearances over the past few years but for the most part, she’s done with acting. Instead, she’s worked as a makeup artist, casting director, and motivational speaker.

5. Marc Copage

Then: Marc Copage played Corey Baker in the TV Show Julia. Six years old at the time, he was the first African American actor to star in a non-stereotypical role.

Now: Copage has made several film appearances over the past few decades. Most recently, he played the role of an interrogator in the 2018 film, The Meg.

Catching Up With the Child Stars of the 60s 

What can we say? The child stars of the 60s are all grown up! And while some have left the acting industry, there are those who’ve remained involved both on the big and small screen.

For more entertainment news like this, check out the rest of our blog!